Alabama

SEC asks NCAA to take the lead on concussions

DESTIN, Fla. -- After a year of studying head injuries, the SEC Working Group on Concussions is asking the NCAA to take the lead.

The SEC wants the NCAA to examine possible revisions to playing rules in various sports, including football, and collect national data. The SEC stopped short of offering specific ideas publicly.

The SEC said its working group gathered information about concussions, identified best practices and standards of care, and provided that information to team physicians, trainers, athletics directors and coaches in the league.

"There is much work to be done, and while the Conference has a role to play, prevention and treatment of concussion injuries is a national concern that needs and deserves a coordinated national effort," SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "For this reason, the Presidents and Chancellors will make a formal request that the NCAA take the lead in organizing and spearheading a national research effort and examining possible revisions to playing rules in football and other sports."

When asked whether he is concerned about liability, Slive responded: "I think the answer to that is we're concerned about the health and safety of our student-athletes and doing everything we can as we move forward. That's an old lawyer's answer."

Last year, the SEC created the working group, which was chaired by Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones. The SEC identified today for the first time the other members of the working group, which will remain in existence:

The SEC said it consulted with Dr. Julian Bailes, co-director of the NorthShore Neurological Institute at the University of Chicago School of Medicine; Dana Marquez, director of equipment operators at Auburn; and Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCAA's new chief medical officer.

"The NCAA's decision to appoint Dr. Hainline as Medical Director is a significant step in a positive direction, and I hope and expect that the NCAA will take the lead in further development of standards and practices to protect the health and safety of our student athletes," Slive said in a statement.

* American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement on Concussion in Sport

* National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement on Concussion in Sport

* American Academy of Neurology Position Statement on Concussion in Sport.

"We've kept (SEC coaches) informed of the working group's existence and participation of the review," Sankey said. "What we have not done is float ideas. We've simply maintained the effort to communicate effectively and we will continue to do so."